SNP attacked for failing to act against gay-row councillor

Published on Thursday 6 August 2009 00:31

THE SNP has been condemned for failing to take action against one of their councillors over comments he made on radio about homosexuals.

Councillor Kenneth Gunn, who is also a party constituency convener, sparked outrage during a live interview on BBC Radio Scotland last month.

He said: "We've got so-called gays, who are really very sad people, and we have non-believers and heathens running the country."

However, his party has refused to take action against the councillor following the comments late last month.

An SNP spokeswoman said: "Mr Gunn's religious beliefs are a personal matter. The comments do not reflect a party position, nor was he speaking in a political capacity."

Mr Gunn also said he was sorry if he had offended anyone, but he did not withdraw his remarks.

However, Labour MSP Lord George Foulkes said: "By refusing to condemn this outburst, they are in reality endorsing their councillor's deeply offensive and bigoted comments."

Liberal Democrat MSP for Tweedale, Ettrick and Lauderdale Jeremy Purvis said:

"It's utterly unacceptable that the offensive comments from an SNP constituency association chairman will not be retracted."

And Green MSP Patrick Harvie, a leading gay rights campaigner, branded the affair a "disgrace".